Richard C. Veith

Richard Veith agreed to represent both my neighbor and I in 2011. We were structuring a property easement and wanted to keep down costs, so we agreed to share a lawyer. Although initially polite and receptive, when we were approaching the end of putting the deal together, he told me he would actually... not represent me due to potential conflicts of interest. Fair enough, but I would have appreciated that "heads up" from the start, so that I could have had a representative watch over my interests as each line in the contract was created. I was thus forced to find alternative counsel. What I learned through the process was 1) Mr. Veith was not a very good real estate lawyer -- new attorneys, which specialize in real estate law, had to redraft the entire document, 2) he became very disconnected and slowed down the process as soon as it came to light that his initial work was inadequate and flawed, 3) he began to bicker over very small, inconsequential details in the work as if driving up fees for sport, 4) his memory was poor, 5) his judgment was poor, 6) this ability to understand math was poor, 7) on the 11th hour, he refused to adjust the contract to terms our neighbors and I mutually agreed to early on, threatening to force us to go through the process again with a new attorney (with new fees, of course), 8) drug-out this small transaction for over a year 9) was largely responsible for legal feels totally over 50% of the cost of the transaction. The attorney I had to hire mid-way through the process (which I have known and used in years past) shared with me that his behavior was the most outrageous thing she had ever witnessed during her career. I generally have high-regard for the legal profession and those who work in it. To date, this instance excluded, I have never had a significantly poor-experience with a lawyer -- certainly never one that would prompt me to write a negative review. Before and during this ordeal, we were friends with our neighbors. This continues to be the case. Throughout the process, we ended up addressing the biggest issues by talking with them directly, either via email or over a beer. Mr. Veith only complicated negotiations. What Mr. Veitih brought to the equation was unnecessary angst, delay and misdirection. My year knowing and dealing with Mr. Veith has led me to recognize him as being a volatile, disorganized, petty and unprofessional attorney.